Every year, Root for Kids recognizes key partners and individuals in our community who go above and beyond to support our mission. Due to COVID-19, we delivered the awards to each awardee prior to our virtual gala. Meet the 2020 Root for Kids award recipients –
Outstanding Community Partner: Southern Utah Home Builders Association
Southern Utah Home Builders Care Foundation is a nonprofit charitable arm of Southern Utah Home Builders Association. They have come to our rescue in many ways by providing much needed construction related services.
They are organized, dedicated, and have so much energy! We are happy and grateful they chose to help us. They came ready to serve as they made repairs to our main building, hung our main Root for Kids sign, laid concrete for our childcare trike path, and more improvement projects during the Southern Utah Home Builders Association for Service Days. We are grateful for this partnership and could not be happier to select them for such a well-deserved award.
Outstanding Health Partner: Danyelle Evans
Danyelle has been a part of the Root for Kids family since 2003, when she was a student at Dixie State University. During that time, Danyelle was instrumental in establishing dental clinic days for enrolled families and invited them to participate in “DSU Sealant Saturdays”. Now, 17 years later, this has transformed into personalized dental clinics twice a semester, and biannual dental sealant service days specifically for Root for Kids families.
Danyelle has been a guest speaker multiple times at our Early Head Start Parent Nights, providing education on the importance of oral health for children and pregnant women, and has donated oral supplies for participating parents. She has assisted us in writing grants for increased oral care screening and preventive care. Danyelle has been involved in our annual Gala and Radiothon, serving on our Events Committee, and securing sponsors and donations for the events.
Outstanding Volunteer: Intermountain Healthcare – Dixie Regional Medical Center
To strengthen our partnership and to have a meaningful service opportunity in our community, a group of administrators and leaders from Intermountain Healthcare/Dixie Regional Medical Center organized a team of 25 healthcare leaders to volunteer with us. There was no job too small or too large for them. They colored, painted, glued, cut, made fishing kits, lacing kits, and other educational and play toys. Everyone was busy serving and we had so much fun having them over!
The team handles day to day admin responsibilities as leaders of the largest healthcare facility in Southern Utah and are heroes to many as they work for the benefit of our health. Thank you for your time, and for supporting our cause!
Outstanding Business: TDS Telecom
Whether it is donating internet services, contributing hundreds of volunteer hours, or partnering to meet the critical needs of our community; TDS has a rich history with Root for Kids. Under the direction of Brenda Cody, Field Marketing Manager, TDS is not a business that sits back and waits idly for opportunities, but rather is proactive, innovative, and intentional in their approach to give back.
In response to COVID-19 Root for Kids opened a One Utah Childcare program which provided free childcare for essential personnel such as health care workers and first responders. TDS quickly stepped up to the plate and made a significant financial contribution in addition to donating personal protective equipment, diapers, formula, and educational materials to ensure the safety and well being of some of our most vulnerable populations.
Outstanding Donor: Bob Richards & Associates
Bob Richards is known as a pillar in our community. A man of integrity, service, and leadership. “Consider it done” is not just Bob’s slogan, it is his standard, value, and his way of life. With a thoughtful understanding of the needs of our families Bob showed up at our agency with a smile on his face and a truck load of diapers. What started out as a very thoughtful gesture has now turned into an annual tradition. Bob’s generosity has been evidenced repeatedly and his contributions continue to amaze us.
This past year Bob not only showed up with a truck load of diapers, but to our surprise was pulling a trailer with diapers stacked to the ceiling. Over the past four years Bob has saved our agency thousands of dollars which has allowed us to serve more children and families in our community.
Debbie Justice Legacy Award: Jennifer Neal Madsen
The Debbie Justice Legacy Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated, encouraged, and exemplified actions that have enriched our organization’s integrity as well as impacted the lives of the many children and families we serve. It is with great appreciation and admiration that I present this year’s Debbie Justice Legacy Award to Jennifer Neal Madsen.
While dabbling in the arena of construction this past year I witnessed a process in build design that I truly believe describes Jenn’s example and value to me personally and to our organization. Sometimes an existing joist, which was designed to handle a certain load, becomes compromised. When a builder needs to strengthen that joist, she puts a new member right next to the original one and fastens the two together. They call this a sister joist. You cannot build a strong beautiful complicated structure, whether it is a building or a life, without sistering. Consistently for the past five years Jenn has demonstrated sistering. With her self-commitment to Root for Kids as a past board president, current vice president, donor, and friend.
We are grateful for the many businesses and community members that help us nurture strong beginnings in Washington County and the Arizona Strip. Join us on December 14, 2020 for our Drive-Thru Radiothon!
